Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Assembly: Members

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that require Members of the Legislative Assembly to designate themselves as nationalist, unionist, or other, upon taking their seats.

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to modify the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that require the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to be drawn from the largest nationalist and unionist designations in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government remains fully committed to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and has no plans to amend the provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that relate to the designation of Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or to modify provisions of that Act in respect of the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to protect groups for whom the COVID-19 vaccine is less effective, and (2) to communicate their remaining risk to the general public.

Lord Bethell: The Government continues to monitor vaccine efficacy amongst different clinical groups, including studies such as OCTAVE, looking at COVID-19 in people with and without cancer and SOAP, measuring vaccine efficacy in blood cancer patients.We have been working on finding treatments to reduce mortality, hospitalisations and disease severity. Immunocompromised individuals are a priority cohort for the research treatments such as monoclonal antibody therapies, antivirals, and repurposed compounds.Although the shielding advice was paused on 1 April, the clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to continue to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe, particularly when meeting with people from outside their household. All clinically extremely vulnerable people will have been offered a COVID-19 vaccination and are strongly encouraged to take up their second dose when it is offered.If an individual has concerns about the impacts of COVID-19 on their own health condition then they should speak to their general practitioner or specialist clinician.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 and who have had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, who are (1) blood cancer patients, and (2) immunocompromised.

Lord Bethell: The information is not held in the format requested.

Travel: Mauritius

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to add Mauritius to the list of islands being considered for the Green List of destinations to which tourists can travel without isolating on return to the UK.

Lord Bethell: Decisions to place countries on ‘red/amber/green list(s)’ are taken by Ministers informed by evidence, including the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s risk assessments alongside other wider public health factors.A summary of the methodology used to inform these decisions is published on GOV.UK. The methodology consists of 4 parts: variant assessment; triage; risk assessment; and outcomes that inform ministerial decisions. All countries and territories that pass triage for green or red indicators undergo a more comprehensive risk assessment using additional quantitative and qualitative information (for example, from publicly available platforms such as the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data and the World Health Organization, host government websites, United Kingdom mandatory testing data and travel data), taking into account data availability, limitations and biases.Available and relevant sources of information for each country or territory are used to provide an overall assessment on genomic surveillance capability, COVID-19 transmission risk and Variant of Concern/Variant Under Investigation transmission risk.

Hospitals: Debts

Lord Mann: To ask Her Majesty's Government which 10 UK hospitals have the highest financial deficit, including debts carried over from previous years.

Lord Bethell: During the last year, the government agreed a number of measures to improve the finances in the NHS provider sector in England. These included writing off £13.4 billion of NHS debt, as part of a major financial reset for NHS providers; temporary arrangements that saw trusts receive block payments to fund their spending through the pandemic, supported by c£18bn of additional funding to support the NHS response to COVID. As a result, the amount and levels of deficits across in the NHS provider sector fell significantly.Work is ongoing to support the minority of trusts who ended 2020/21 in a deficit position and to develop solutions to secure future financial sustainability.Final deficit figures for 2020-21 will be published as part of the NHS’s final accounts in due course.

Air Pollution

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research by Mark Ashworth et al 'Spatio-temporal associations of air pollutant concentrations, GP respiratory consultations and respiratory inhaler prescriptions: a 5-year study of primary care in the borough of Lambeth, South London', published in Environmental Health on 7 May.

Lord Bethell: Epidemiological studies have shown that long-term exposure to air pollution (over years or lifetimes) reduces life expectancy, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and lung cancer. Short-term exposure (over hours or days) to elevated levels of air pollution can also cause a range of health impacts, including effects on lung function, exacerbation of asthma, increases in respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions and mortality.The Ashworth et al (2021) study adds to the existing evidence base that exposure to air pollution can cause adverse respiratory effects, concluding that short- and long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5 particles are associated with an increase in the daily number of General Practitioner respiratory consultations and inhaler prescriptions.

Diabetes

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the benefits of protecting funding to Clinical Commissioning Groups for diabetes technology.

Lord Bethell: No assessment has been made on the benefits of protecting funding to Clinical Commissioning Groups for diabetes technology. Clinical Commissioning Groups are responsible for commissioning diabetes services for their local populations and are best placed as clinically-led organisations that have both the local knowledge and accountability, to make commissioning decisions in the best interests of their patients. This includes prescribing technologies for people living with diabetes, for example glucose monitoring devices.Commissioning decisions for the adoption of technology products in diabetes are always guided by clinical and cost effective assessments, delivered by NICE and other regulatory bodies.

Department for Education

Schools: Equality

Lord Woolley of Woodford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support schools which seek to create (1) equal, (2) racially diverse, and (3) inclusive, environments for their pupils.

Baroness Berridge: All schools must offer a balanced and broadly based curriculum, which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.In November 2018, the department published Respectful School Communities, a self-review and signposting tool to support schools to develop a whole-school approach which promotes respect and discipline: https://educateagainsthate.com/school-leaders/?filter=guidance-and-training-school-leaders. This can combat bullying, harassment and prejudice of any kind. It will help schools to identify the various elements that make up a whole school approach, consider gaps in their current practice, and get further support.Citizenship education also plays an essential role in developing knowledge and understanding about the world today through teaching politics, democracy, power, the law, human rights, justice and the economy, as well as the changing nature of communities, identities, diversity in the UK and the UK’s relations with the wider world.From September 2020, relationships education became compulsory for all primary school pupils, relationships and sex education compulsory for all secondary school pupils, and health education compulsory for pupils in all state-funded schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education. These subjects are designed to give pupils the knowledge they need to lead happy, safe and healthy lives and to foster respect for other people and for difference.The teaching workforce has become steadily more racially and ethnically diverse over the last decade, which is the period for which we have comparable data, although we know there is further to go to attract and retain diverse teachers who are representative of the communities they serve: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england. Our recruitment campaigns are targeted at audiences of students/recent graduates and potential career changers of all ethnicities and characteristics.Finally, it is important all children and young people are treated fairly and there is no place for discrimination in our education system. The Equality Act 2010 ensures that schools cannot unlawfully discriminate against pupils or staff because of their sex, race, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief. The department has published guidance on the Equality Act 2010 for schools, which includes advice on how they can meet their duties under the act: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/315587/Equality_Act_Advice_Final.pdf.

Schools: Domestic Violence

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the Fair Access Protocol under the School Admissions Code includes all children escaping domestic abuse, not only those in refuges.

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the outcome of the review of the School Admissions Code.

Baroness Berridge: In 2020 the Government consulted on changes to the School Admissions Code (the Code) to improve the in year admission process for all children, including those fleeing domestic abuse, and to improve Fair Access Protocols, which act as a safety net for the most vulnerable children. The new Code and associated regulations were laid before Parliament on 13 May and, subject to Parliamentary procedure, they will come into force 1 September. On the same day, the Government published the response to the consultation which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-school-admissions-code--4.The new Code ensures that unplaced children who are living in a refuge or other relevant accommodation will be eligible to be considered by a Fair Access Protocol, which exists to ensure that unplaced and vulnerable children are allocated a school place as quickly as possible. Relevant accommodation, for the purposes of the Code, means a safe place to stay for victims and their children fleeing domestic abuse. This can include, but is not limited to, refuges, specialist safe accommodation, sanctuary schemes and second stage accommodation.

Apprentices

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprentices were in training in (1) 2015–16, and (2) 2020–21.

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many current apprentices are (1) female, and (2) male.

Baroness Berridge: In the first two quarters of the 2020/21 academic year, reported to date, there were a total of 575,900 apprentices participating.In the first two quarters of the 2015/16 academic year, there were 708,900 participating apprentices reported at the equivalent point that year. Finalised full year figures show there were 899,400 participating on an apprenticeship in the 2015/16 academic year.In the first two quarters of the 2020/21 academic year, reported to date, there has been 269,200 female and 306,700 male apprentices participating.

Apprentices: Manufacturing Industries

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what annual financial allowances they provide to apprentices in the manufacturing sector.

Baroness Berridge: In the 2021-22 financial year funding available for investment in apprenticeships in England is almost £2.5 billion, double what was spent in the 2010-11 financial year. Employers of all sizes can access funding for apprenticeship training and assessment. There is no ring-fenced annual apprenticeship budget for any individual sector, such as the manufacturing sector.Employers in all sectors are able to choose which apprenticeships they offer, and when, in order to meet their skills needs. There are over 140 high-quality employer-designed apprenticeship standards in the engineering and manufacturing sector available for employers to use, including the level 3 print technician standard and the level 5 food and drink engineer standard. In the 2019/20 academic year, there were 52,000 apprenticeship starts in the engineering and manufacturing technologies sector.To help employers in all sectors to offer new apprenticeships, employers can claim a £3,000 incentive payment for each apprentice they take on as a new employee until 30 September, as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs. This is paid in addition to the funding available to employers for training and assessing apprentices, and the extra payments we already make to support employers and providers meet the needs of the youngest apprentices and those with an Education, Health and Care Plan. Individual employers can choose how to spend the incentive payment to support their apprentices, including meeting any of the costs associated with supporting a new apprentice in the workplace, such as uniforms or travel costs.

Secondary Education: Vocational Guidance

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the effectiveness of careers advice in secondary schools.

Baroness Berridge: We are continually reviewing the effectiveness of careers policy. We are aware that information on education or training options provided by schools at key transition points too often fails to correct, or even reinforces, the impression that technical education, including apprenticeships, is somehow second-best to academic study.Through the ‘Baker Clause’, introduced in January 2018, all maintained schools and academies must publish a policy statement setting out opportunities for providers of technical education courses and apprenticeships to visit schools to talk to all year 8 to year 13 pupils, and to make sure that the policy is followed.A January 2019 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that, whilst one in three schools say the situation improved in the year since the Baker Clause was introduced, only 40% of schools were complying with the Baker Clause.In the Skills for Jobs White Paper, the department announced plans to go further to improve compliance with the Baker Clause through the introduction of a 3-point-plan. This is an important step towards real choice for every pupil. We will create clear minimum legal requirements, specifying who is to be given access to which pupils and when. We will take tougher formal action to enforce compliance. The government’s investment in careers will be conditional on Baker Clause compliance.Through the work of the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), we are increasing young people’s exposure to the world of work and supporting schools and colleges to achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance. As set out in the Skills for Jobs White Paper, we will continue the national roll-out of Careers Hubs, digital support, Careers Leader training and the Enterprise Adviser Network to all secondary schools in England. This will continue to accelerate the progress of all schools and colleges towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks so that all young people are equipped to make informed career and learning decisions.We have also committed in the Skills for Jobs White Paper to take steps to improve both local and national alignment between the CEC and the National Careers Service to create a clear, all-age careers system. Professor Sir John Holman has been appointed as Independent Strategic Adviser on Careers Guidance and will advise on closer alignment of the National Careers Service and the CEC, based around 4 important principles:Completing the national roll-out of careers infrastructureDeveloping an enhanced National Careers Service websiteBetter collaboration at an area-levelComplementary personal guidance for young peopleThe department is working closely with Professor Sir John Holman, the National Careers Service and CEC to agree what further action that can be taken across all 4 principles to make sure that young people and adults have access to a joined-up careers offer across their lifetime.

Apprentices: Manufacturing Industries

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of female apprentices in the manufacturing sector.

Baroness Berridge: In the 2019/20 academic year, women accounted for 49% of all apprenticeship starts.The representation of women in science, technology, engineering, construction, digital and maths (STEM) is increasing, in the 2019/20 academic year, women accounted for 11.4% of STEM apprenticeship starts, up from 10.1% in 2018/19 and 8.8% in 2017/18.We are working with some of the country’s most influential employers in the manufacturing sector through the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network, including Siemens, Bombardier and Rolls-Royce, who are actively increasing female representation in STEM roles. The Network is also seeking to share examples of employer best practice in bringing women onto STEM apprenticeships and successfully retaining them. The Network will report during National Apprenticeship Week 2022 on how to better reach out to target underrepresented groups and improve retention.Our Apprenticeship Support & Knowledge programme is raising awareness of apprenticeships in schools, encouraging female students to consider apprenticeships in traditionally male dominated fields. This free service provides schools and teachers with resources and interventions to help better educate young people about apprenticeships. We have seen involvement from large employers such as Toyota who delivered interactive live broadcasts to promote careers in STEM to students, increasing their awareness of the available opportunities in the manufacturing industry.

Students: Coronavirus

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Education Policy Institute Education recovery and resilience in England, published on 14 May, what assessment they have made of the benefit of allowing students the option to retake an academic year, in cases of extreme learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Berridge: The degree of time away from school will be considered when schools are planning their support for pupils to catch up on lost education and development. The department does not anticipate that all pupils will need to repeat a school year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In exceptional circumstances it remains possible for headteachers to agree to a pupil repeating a school year if they think it is appropriate.In June 2021 we announced £1.4 billion of additional funding for education recovery.  This is in addition to the £1.7 billion already committed bringing total investment announced for education recovery over the past year to over £3 billion.The package provides an additional £1.4 billion to support children aged 2 to 19 in schools, colleges and early years. This will provide an additional £1 billion for tutoring, which will allow us to provide up to 100 million hours of tuition for 5 to 19 year olds by 2024, targeting disadvantaged children and key subjects such as mathematics and English. We are also making available an extra £400 million to help provide 500,000 teacher training opportunities across the country, alongside professional development for early years practitioners.In addition, schools or colleges will be able to offer students in year 13 a repeat year where they have been particularly badly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Funding for this will be met from existing departmental budgets.This is the third major recovery intervention in the past year and comes on top of to the £1.7 billion already announced to support recovery to date. This package provides additional investment, building on the almost £550 million already announced for small group tuition, £200 million for secondary schools to deliver face to face summer schools this summer, a £650 million universal catch up premium for schools this year and a £302 million recovery premium next year.This package is the next step towards recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. We are also launching a review of the evidence on extending the school and college day, to conclude in time for the Spending Review, alongside continuing to monitor how effectively pupils are catching up.

Department for International Trade

Cotton: Xinjiang

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the estimate by US Customs and Border Protection that 85 per cent of China’s manufactured cotton comes from the Xinjiang region; and what plans they have to introduce restrictions on imports of cotton to prevent the import of goods sent from Uighur internment camps in the Xinjiang region.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: HM Government has serious concerns about the situation in Xinjiang, with reports of the use of forced labour. It has always been the case that where we have concerns, we raise them – as we did on this issue at the UN Human Rights Council, most recently in February. We advise businesses with supply chain links in Xinjiang to conduct appropriate due diligence to satisfy themselves that their activities do not support, and are not seen to support, any violations or abuses of rights and responsibilities. My Rt Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced a review of export controls on 12th January, but import controls were not included at this time.

Trade Agreements: COE Countries

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, along with local authorities, (1) to promote, and (2) to further enable, international partnerships withCouncil of Europe member states, as part of their future international trading strategy.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The Department for International Trade develops and maintains close links across the United Kingdom on trade and investment objectives. We support businesses to seize opportunities worldwide through our network of British High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates in countries that are members of the Council of Europe. In addition, we seek to identify and remove market access barriers, drive inward investment, and implement the United Kingdom’s trade agreements to promote and enable bilateral trade with countries around the globe, including with members of the Council of Europe.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Iraq: Islamic State

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following attacks by Islamic State in the last month, what assessment they have made of the security situation in (1) the Kirkuk Governorate, and (2) Iraq’s disputed territories; and what support to counter such terrorism is being offered to (a) the government of Iraq, and (b) the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The recent attacks in Kirkuk Governorate demonstrated that Daesh still remains active and represents a continuing threat to the safety and security of the people of Iraq and the wider region, particularly in the disputed territories such as Kirkuk. We work closely with the UN and international partners to encourage the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve their issues, including on disputed territories.As a leading member of the Global Coalition against Daesh, the UK continues to support the Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish Security Forces in maintaining capacity and capability to tackle the threat from Daesh.

Israel: Palestinians

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has spoken to President al-Sisi of Egypt since the recent outbreak of violence between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Gaza; and, if so, whether they discussed the possibility of Egyptian mediation between the government of Israel and Hamas to secure a ceasefire.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK worked actively to urge the parties to work with mediators towards an immediate ceasefire. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa engaged the Egyptian Ambassador in London, and the British Embassy Cairo worked closely with the Government of Egypt. We fully supported Egyptian, Qatari and UN efforts to mediate, working closely with the US.The UK welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza on 20 May, which is an important step to ending the cycle of violence and loss of civilian life. Hamas must end all attacks on Israel. It is also now important for Israel to facilitate rapid humanitarian access in and out of Gaza. As the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have made clear, this cycle of violence must stop, and every effort must be made to avoid loss of life.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to call on the government of Israel to meet the cost of repairing (1) health centres in Gaza that have been damaged by recent air and artillery attacks, (2) the central laboraty for COVID-19 testing, and (3) schools supported by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK priority is ensuring timely humanitarian access into and out of Gaza; we are urging the Government of Israel to ensure this access is maintained. We have made clear our concern about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, including significant damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure including homes, schools, hospitals, and clinics. We have not made representations to the Government of Israel on the issue of reconstruction.The United Kingdom is also providing an initial £3.2 million of UK aid to UNRWA's emergency flash appeal, which launched on 19 May 2021. This appeal will address the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable Palestinians living in Gaza. We understand that 47,000 displaced people are currently seeking shelter in schools run by UNRWA. We remain in close contact with UN agencies and key partners on the ground and will monitor the situation closely.

UN World Conference against Racism

Lord Shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make a statement regarding the Durban IV event commemorating the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The United Kingdom is committed to combatting all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, both at home and abroad. We believe that one of the most effective ways to tackle injustices and advocate respect among different religious and racial groups is to encourage all states to uphold their human rights obligations. Some of the anti-Semitic actions and speeches in and around the 2001 Durban conference and its various follow-up events gave rise to serious concerns. We will consider UK attendance in the light of developments between now and the commemoration event, including the likelihood of any recurrence of anti-Semitism.

UN World Conference against Racism

Lord Shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports about the possibility of (1) antisemitism, and (2) anti-Israel sentiment, at events marking the anniversary of the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The United Kingdom is committed to combatting all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, both at home and abroad. We believe that one of the most effective ways to tackle injustices and advocate respect among different religious and racial groups is to encourage all states to uphold their human rights obligations. Some of the anti-Semitic actions and speeches in and around the 2001 Durban conference and its various follow-up events gave rise to serious concerns. We will consider UK attendance in the light of developments between now and the commemoration event, including the likelihood of any recurrence of anti-Semitism.

Tigray: Rape

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of allegations reported in the Europe External Africa Report on Tigray, published on 19 May, that killings, abductions, and rape are still occurring in Tigray, and that soldiers “are raping and destroying women to ensure that they cannot raise a community in the future. They are using rape and food as weapons of war."

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has led calls on the parties to the Tigray conflict to place the survival and welfare of the affected people above political and military goals. We are deeply concerned about the impact of the conflict on food security and nutrition in Tigray, including reports of people dying from hunger. We have raised the points with the Government in Addis Ababa consistently and at the highest levels, most recently during the visit of the Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs from 19-25 May. To date the UK has provided £22 million of badly needed support to people in Tigray.

Tigray: Chemical Weapons

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of allegations reported in the Europe External Africa Report on Tigray, published on 19 May, that internationally banned chemical weapons have been used in the villages of Tigray; and what steps they are taking (1) to verify these reports, and (2), if confirmed, to hold those responsible to account.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is appalled by reports of atrocities in Tigray and is aware of recent reports that civilians have again been victims of indiscriminate shelling. It is clear that the conflict in Tigray is being conducted with little regard for civilian welfare and as a consequence reports of civilian casualties are all too common.Ethiopia is a state party of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and has not declared any Chemical Weapons programme. The Government of Ethiopia has denied that Chemical Weapons have been used. We are working to establish the facts. Access to the affected areas, and to verified information, remains difficult. We have consistently called for access for independent human rights investigators and will continue to do so.

Russia: Pipelines

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the apparent change in policy towards the Nord Stream 2 pipeline announced by the US Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister on 20 May; and further to that announcement, whether they plan to reassess UK policy on the pipeline.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK remains concerned about the impact Nord Stream 2 will have on European energy security and particularly on the interests of Ukraine. Our focus continues to be supporting resilient European energy markets, including measures that diversify energy supply.

Armenia: Genocide

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that declaring acts as genocide should be a determination made by (1) the Government, (2) Parliament, or (3) the courts; and in particular, which of these bodies it considers should determine whether the events of 1915 in Armenia constituted genocide.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The events of 1915-1916 were a tragic episode in the history of the Armenian people and they must never be forgotten. The UK Government of the day condemned the massacres and this Government fully endorses that view.It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that determination of genocide should be made by a competent court, rather than by the UK government or a non-judicial body. It should be decided after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process. Competent courts in respect of genocide include international courts and domestic criminal courts meeting international standards of due process.

Ethiopia: Sudan

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking with international partners to support a resolution of the al-Fashaga border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are concerned about the increase of tensions on the Sudanese/Ethiopian border in the al-Fashaga territory and have stressed the need for de-escalation on both sides. We are also concerned by the numbers of people displaced and the impact this will have in the region.We are working with our international partners to encourage all parties to de-escalate and engage in a political process. The Foreign Secretary has discussed the issue with both Prime Minister Abiy of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Hamdok of Sudan, and our Embassies in Addis Ababa and Khartoum have raised with host governments.

Moldova: Elections

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation in Moldova regarding the separatist region of Transnistria after the disputed result of last year’s presidential election and the early elections called for 11 July; and what discussions they have had with the government of Russia concerning their position on the issue, particularly given recent expressions of concern by the presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, and a sustainable resolution of the Transnistrian conflict, with a special status for the Transnistrian region. Since Moldovan Presidential elections in 2020, which were assessed by international observers to have been 'well-managed', we do not assess that the security situation in Transnistria has worsened. However, we are concerned by recent reports of human rights abuses and limitations placed on freedom of movement by the de facto Transnistrian authorities. There have been no recent bilateral discussions between the UK and Russian governments on the status of this issue. Minister Morton discussed Transnistria with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Interim Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi on 12 May during her visit to Chisinau. The UK raises Transnistria regularly in international fora, and we will continue to press for the withdrawal of illegally-stationed Russian forces from the Transnistrian region, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions.

Ministry of Defence

Frigates

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they anticipate that the number of Royal Navy frigates will drop below 10 this decade.

Baroness Goldie: Her Majesty's Government does not anticipate that the number of Royal Navy frigates will drop below ten this decade. Frigate numbers are forecast to grow from 2025, when the first Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are scheduled to be delivered.

Navy: Deployment

Lord Coaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of New Zealand on the Carrier Strike Group deployment.

Baroness Goldie: New Zealand is one of the UK's key partners and a valued member of the Five Eyes alliance. The UK Defence Secretary wrote to NZ Defence Minister Peeni Henare late last year, formally inviting New Zealand to operate with the Carrier Strike Group deployment. Subsequent high-level discussions involving the Defence Secretary, Permanent Secretary, Chief of the Defence Staff and senior military officers have continued to explore the details of our engagement, and operational planning is underway.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Satellite Communications

Lord Coaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what US satellite networks UK Reaper drones use.

Baroness Goldie: In general, the RAF use a combination of Ku-band satellite links together with line of sight Radio Frequency communications and telephone networks for UK Reaper. These are used across the UK, US and NATO military systems, dependent on requirement, the area of operations and the specific task.However, I am withholding further details about specific satellite networks as they would likely prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Lord Coaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what countries UK Reaper drones have launched strikes in, without parliamentary approval, since 2015.

Baroness Goldie: On 21 August 2015 an RAF Reaper RPAS precision airstrike was conducted in Syria and Parliament were notified of this operation on 7 September 2015 by the then Prime Minister, David Cameron. This strike preceded the Parliamentary vote of 2 December 2015 which saw Parliament support a motion to extend the UK's support to the global-coalition's counter-Daesh operations into Syria. We will continue to ensure that Parliament is kept informed of significant major operations and deployments of the Armed Forces

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Carers

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what proportion of, couples with children claiming Universal Credit since July 2019 have nominated the main carer's bank account for payment.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Analysis of the proportion of first payments that go to the main carer has been carried out. However, it is not possible to draw robust conclusions based on the limited evidence available

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord True on 14 December 2020 (HL10908), what progress has been made on discussions between the Cabinet Office and HMRC about how to better inform people about how to register to vote; and in particular on providing (1) an electronic link, or (2) specific written reference, to the electoral registration website in the National Insurance number letters that they issue.

Lord True: National Insurance Number letters issued by HMRC state that you need your National Insurance Number to register to vote. Cabinet Office officials continue to engage with colleagues in HMRC regarding what further information could be included in the letters to help inform individuals about the registration process, and whether there is scope to include reference to the Register to Vote website in the National Insurance number letters. The Government is committed to making registration as easy as possible and we encourage everyone who is eligible to register to vote.

Proof of Identity: Young People

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people aged under 25 and living in London who have neither a passport nor a photographic driving licence.

Lord True: The Cabinet Office commissioned a nationally representative survey in 2021 to explore photographic ID ownership of residents eligible to vote in Great Britain. The list of identification accepted for voting purposes will not be limited to UK passports or driving licences and will include a broad range of documents already in use, such as various concessionary travel passes, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) cards and photocard parking permits issued as part of the Blue Badge scheme. The survey estimates that 99% of respondents from London (with the 95% confidence interval placing this estimate between 97.8%-100%) and 99% of 18-24 year olds (with the 95% confidence interval placing this estimate between 97.5%-100%) hold at least one of the forms of photographic identification accepted under the planned policy. Further information on photographic identification ownership for voting can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voter-identification-photographic-id-ownership-in-great-britain.

General Elections: Costs

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of printing and distributing polling cards to voters in the 2019 general election.

Lord True: The cost of printing and distributing polling cards to voters at the 2019 general election will not be known until all of the Returning Officers’ expenses claims for those polls have been reviewed, agreed and settled.

General Elections

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Electoral Commission's publication of electoral data from the 2019 United Kingdom Parliamentary general election, what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons for tendered ballot papers having to be issued, and (2) how the number of tendered ballots compares to the total votes cast; and what plans they have to work with the Electoral Commission and professional bodies representing Returning Officers to assess the possible reasons for tendered ballot papers being issued.

Lord True: A tendered ballot paper may be issued to a voter in a number of circumstances at an election; for example, if an elector goes to a polling station and finds that the register has been marked to show that somebody has already voted for them, and the elector believes this is an error. As noted in the question, the Electoral Commission included information on the number of tendered ballot papers issued in the electoral data it compiled from the 2019 General Election. The Government will continue to work with the Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies to support the delivery of elections and will consider a wide range of issues as part of this work.

Electoral Register: Young People

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many attainers are currently registered to vote in (1) England, (2) Northern Ireland, (3) Scotland, and (4) Wales; and how many were registered each year from 2015 to 2020.

Lord True: The number of attainers registered to vote can be found on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration/datasets/electoralstatisticsforuk. The number of attainers included in the local government register, by year, are:  EnglandWalesScotlandNorthern Ireland2020196,34614,64029,5994902019265,62413,17014,5773192018268,39613,17220,2325742017279,38813,00120,7886082016293,43013,81022,0355,0002015244,78112,46221,3435,350An elector must be 18 years old to be included on the UK Parliamentary register. As such, attainers are not included in UK Parliamentary registers.

British Nationals Abroad: Electoral Register

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many overseas electors are (1) on electoral rolls in the United Kingdom, (2) apply for a postal vote, and (3) voted in the 2019 general election.

Lord True: There were 233,000 overseas electors registered in Great Britain for the 2019 general election. The Government does not hold data on the number of overseas electors who submitted a postal vote application or how many voted.The Office for National Statistics also publishes electoral statistic bulletins with some information on overseas electors. This can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration/bulletins/electoralstatisticsforuk/previousReleases.

Treasury

Bank Services: New Businesses

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of high street banks refusing new business account applications; and what steps they plan to take as a result.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been unprecedented demand for banking services, this accompanied with working restrictions due to social distancing has meant banks have faced significant capacity pressures which has limited their ability to meet demand for their services. Banks are doing all they can to meet this demand in these difficult circumstances. Decisions about what products are offered to individual businesses remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies. It would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in these decisions. But the Government has always been clear that lenders should open to new customers where it is operationally possible for them to do so.

Electronic Funds Transfer: Fraud

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the finance industry regarding the adoption of the voluntary Contingent Reimbursement Model Code; and what steps they are taking to persuade retail banks to sign up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code.

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of implementing a requirement for banks to regularly publish data on the reimbursement rates of bank transfer scam victims.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government is committed to tackling fraud and ensuring that victims of Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams are protected. The Government recognises the work industry has undertaken to date, including the introduction of a voluntary reimbursement Code, which has demonstrably had a beneficial impact. However, the Code, whilst improving matters, comes with limitations, including disparity in how different payment service providers are interpreting their obligations under it, as well is its lack of comprehensive cover across providers. The Government therefore welcomed the publication of the Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) call for views on APP scams in February 2021, which set out various potential measures for reducing APP scams and improving customer outcomes, including new requirements on payment service providers to reimburse APP scam victims and publishing APP scam data. The Government is of the view that the introduction of Faster Payments Service rules setting reimbursement requirements on all scheme participants is the best possible solution to the issue of APP scams; this will ensure the rules underpinning Faster Payments are fit for purpose. The PSR’s call for views has now closed and the Government is engaging with the PSR and industry on next steps, including considering what further actions may be necessary to make progress on this issue.

Workplace Pensions: Low Pay

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans do they have to implement legal obligations on employers (1) to select a suitable pension scheme for low-paid workers, and (2) to inform those workers about the lower take-home pay as a result of enrolling onto a Net Pay scheme.

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement legal obligations on (1) pension scheme trustees, (2) pension advisers, and (3) pension scheme providers, to ensure that the take-home pay of members of auto-enrolment pension schemes take-home pay is not reduced as a direct result of the pension scheme’s tax relief administration system.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government recognises the different impacts of the two systems of paying pension tax relief on pension contributions for workers earning below the personal allowance. The Government committed in its manifesto to review this issue and published a Call for Evidence on 21 July 2020. The Call for Evidence set out the Government’s views on proposals already put forward by stakeholders, invited further proposals, and sought views on the operation of the relief at source method of tax relief for pension contributions.The Call for Evidence is now closed. The Government is carefully analysing this issue and the responses received to understand what deliverable options for change may exist. These responses have raised technical points that we are continuing to explore with HMRC and others. The Government will respond to the Call for Evidence in due course.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Gambling

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of suspending advertisements by gambling operators during the 2021 UEFAEuropean Championship.

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of advertisements by gambling operators that will be aired before 9pm during the 2021 UEFA European Championship.

Baroness Barran: The Government has not made an estimate of the number of advertisements by gambling operators that will be aired before 9pm during the 2021 UEFA European Championship. Broadcasters have discretion over how advertising breaks are set and what adverts are broadcast, in line with Ofcom and ASA standards. In addition, the Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising includes a whistle to whistle ban that also prohibits adverts for betting being shown during live sports broadcast before the 9pm watershed. Subject to these rules, the volume of adverts depends on the commercial arrangements put in place between the gambling operators and the broadcasters. All gambling advertising, wherever it appears, is subject to strict controls on content and placement. Gambling adverts must never be targeted at children or vulnerable people. The Advertising Standards Authority independently administers these standards through the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) which covers online and non-broadcast spaces and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) for TV. If an advert for gambling holds particular appeal to children and is freely accessible then it will break the rules. The government launched the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 on 8 December with the publication of a Call for Evidence. This closed on 31 March and received approximately 16,000 submissions from a broad range of interested organisations and individuals. As part of the wide scope of that Review, we called for evidence on the benefits or harms of allowing gambling operators to advertise and we are considering the evidence carefully.

Musicians: EU Countries

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on establishing a transactional support fund for UK musicians looking to tour the EU.

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of (1) the desirability of establishing a UK Music Export Office, or (2) other methods to promote music exports.

Baroness Barran: The Government recognises the world-leading position of the UK performing arts sector and the rich breadth of artistic talent across the UK.UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are working with the creative and cultural sectors to help them get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.We are looking closely at a range of options to support musicians and performers to resume touring with ease as soon as it is safe to do so, including proposals for an Export Office that could provide further practical help. We will set out next steps in due course.

Choirs: Coronavirus

Baroness Walmsley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the (1) evidential, and (2) statutory, basis for the recent guidance that amateur choirs should be restricted to six socially-distanced singers indoors.

Baroness Barran: We know that the restrictions on singing are frustrating to large numbers of amateur choirs and performance groups across the country and that many people have made sacrifices in order to drive down infections and protect the NHS over the last year. It is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions. We have followed the views of public health experts on singing. We are aware, through the NERVTAG and PERFORM studies that singing can increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission through the spread of aerosol droplets. This was backed up by a consensus statement from SAGE, resulting in the suggested principles of safer singing being published. We will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. Further detail on step 4 will be set out as soon as possible.

Choirs: Coronavirus

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis there is a limit on non-professional singers of six people singing indoors in the context of restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic; and why this limit is more restrictive than the one that was in place in autumn 2020.

Baroness Barran: We know that the restrictions on singing are frustrating to large numbers of amateur choirs and performance groups across the country and that many people have made sacrifices in order to drive down infections and protect the NHS over the last year. However, it is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions. We have followed the views of public health experts on singing. We are aware, through the NERVTAG and PERFORM studies that singing can increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission through the spread of aerosol droplets. This was backed up by a consensus statement from SAGE, resulting in the suggested principles of safer singing being published. We will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. Further detail on step 4 will be set out as soon as possible.

Arts: UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from touring creative service companies regarding the arrangements in the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and what assessment they have made of those representations.

Baroness Barran: UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are working with the creative and cultural sectors to help them get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.As the Secretary of State has said, we have moved at pace and with urgency on plans to support the creative sectors to tour in Europe. We have engaged with touring creative service companies, including through the DCMS-led working group. Sector representatives on the working group are encouraged to reach out to others to ensure the working group hears and understands the views and concerns of organisations and individuals right across the cultural and creative sectors. Engagement with the sector has been extremely helpful and we are grateful for the cooperation of numerous organisations.Through our bilateral discussions with EU Member States, we have established that in at least 17 out of 27 Member States some touring activities are possible without visas or work-permits. The UK has significantly more generous arrangements for touring professionals than many Member States, and should they be willing to change their rules to match ours we will have those discussions and encourage them to do so.

Arts: Coronavirus

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group Supporting Writers through the COVID-19 Crisis, published on 11 May, what plans they have to engage with writers’ organisations to discuss the recommendations relating to maintaining diversity of talent in the creative industries following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Barran: Literature contributes greatly to the richness and diversity of our cultural environment, and we welcome the report by the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group.The government is clear that it expects the cultural sectors to represent our diverse society in their artistic talent, workforce and audiences. As the national development agency for art and culture, Arts Council England (ACE) has a responsibility to ensure that public money benefits all of the public.ACE supports a network of Writer Development Agents, which between them cover every one of the five regions in which ACE operates, all of which have an explicit remit to support writers that represent the diversity of our country. ACE has also focused additional funding on organisations whose work promotes diversity, most prominently via an Ambition for Excellence award to The Good Literary Agency, based in Bristol, which develops and then markets authors from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, and via our support of a pair of reports (by BookTrust and the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) into the diversity and inclusivity of the children’s literature sector.We hope that this ongoing support and engagement will help to nurture the next generation of writers to build on the success of today’s sector.

Music: Training

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure UK workers have the necessary skills to work in the UK music sector.

Baroness Barran: This Government understands the importance of ensuring that workers in the music sector have the necessary skills, demonstrated through its commitment to music education. It was made clear in December 2018 that the existing National Plan for Music Education, originally co-published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Education (DfE), would be refreshed. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the refresh of the National Plan is currently on hold, but the Government remains committed to publishing a refresh in due course, to support the next generation of music sector workers.DCMS is also working closely with the music sector, including UK Music, to put in place programmes to aid music education and skills development. The Music Academic Partnership (MAP), which involves UK educational institutions and UK Music members, sees industry working with academics and educators to give colleges and university students a better chance of finding a job in the music industry. UK Music is also part of the Creative Industries Advisory Group which is working with DfE on developing reforms to the apprenticeship levy.

BBC: Royal Charters

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the mid-term review of the BBC Charter not being conducted before the Ofcom review of public service broadcasting; and how will the review by Ofcom be used to inform the mid-term review of the BBC Charter.

Baroness Barran: Ofcom is required to conduct a review into public service broadcasting at least every five years and went out for consultation in December 2020. The report of its third review, "Public Service Broadcasting in the Internet Age", was published on 2 July 2015.The concept and principles for the Mid-Term Review are set out in the BBC Royal Charter of 2016. The Royal Charter is clear that “the (mid-term) review must not be undertaken before 2022 and must be completed by 2024.”Government officials shall be undertaking preparatory work ahead of the mid-term review starting formally next year, and will consult Ofcom on the scope, timing, and terms of reference in due course, as is required by the BBC Charter.Further, the Charter requires that Ofcom conduct a periodic review of the BBC which looks at the extent to which the BBC is fulfilling its Mission and promoting each of the Public Purposes and addressing any specific issues of concern. This must be concluded in time to inform the Mid-Term Review.

Cybercrime

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning any legislation to ensure that laws relating to cyber-insecure products are aligned with product safety laws; and what steps they are taking to (1) warn customers about cyber-insecure products, or (2) remove cyber-insecure products from circulation.

Baroness Barran: As announced in the Queen’s Speech, the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill will make sure all consumer connected products sold in the UK, adhere to minimum cyber security standards. This legislation will align with existing product safety laws.The government has published advice on how to use smart devices safely in the home (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/smart-devices-in-the-home) and has regularly highlighted the issue of insecure devices, for example with the National Cyber Security Centre's guidance on how to secure internet-connected cameras in the home. In addition, the Cyber Aware campaign offers consumers advice on how to keep their devices secure.

Arts: EU Countries

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to negotiate a new arrangement with the EU for those involved in the creative industries sector, particularly in relation to arrangements for touring musicians.

Baroness Barran: The Government recognises the world-leading position of the UK performing arts sectors and the rich breadth of artistic talent across the UK.UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are committed to supporting the sectors as they get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.As the Prime Minister has said, we're working flat out with the industry, including through the DCMS-led working group, on plans to support the creative sectors to tour in Europe. Through our bilateral discussions with EU Member States, we have established that in at least 17 out of 27 Member States some touring activities are possible without visas or work-permits. The UK has significantly more generous arrangements for touring professionals than many Member States, and should they be willing to change their rules to match ours we will have those discussions and encourage them to do so.

Gambling: Coronavirus

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the study by Alan M Emond et alGambling by young adults in the UK during COVID-19 lockdown, published on 18 April,what assessment they have made of the reported correlation between higher rates of gambling and COVID-19 lockdowns.

Baroness Barran: Overall participation in gambling has declined over the period of COVID-19 lockdowns in Great Britain, largely due to the closure of land-based gambling for much of the past year. The Gambling Commission’s latest official statistics show the proportion of respondents participating in any gambling in the past four weeks fell from 46.7% in the year to March 2020 to 40.0% in the year to March 2021. As in the study by Professor Emond et al., the Commission data indicates a small increase in online gambling participation. The government continues to monitor the situation and consider the evidence carefully.

Arts: Coronavirus

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to regularly engage with representatives of the creative workforce to discuss the best route to recovery for the creative sector.

Baroness Barran: Throughout the pandemic, DCMS ministers and officials have been regularly engaging with stakeholders representing the workforce across the creative industries to ensure their concerns are understood.Regular forums for engagement include quarterly meetings with the Creative Industries Council, which includes representatives from across the creative sector and is co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for DCMS and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. At the outset of the Covid pandemic, the Council developed a plan on transition and recovery that has been useful for helping shape our policy response. We are now looking to the future, and continue to work with the Council to consider further recovery and growth opportunities for the sector.DCMS officials are also in regular contact with other stakeholders including ScreenSkills, Arts Council England, the Creative Industries Federation and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.

Internet: Pornography

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of organisations within the scope of the draft Online Safety Bill that are (1) pornographic websites, and (2) social media sites that contain pornography.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of (1) pornographic websites, and (2) social media sites that contain pornography, that will be (a) Category 1 organisations, and (b) not Category 1 organisations, under the draft Online Safety Bill.

Baroness Benjamin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of UK users of the organisations expected to be in within the scope of the draft Online Safety Bill that access (1) pornographic websites, and (2) social media sites that contain pornography

Baroness Barran: The Online Safety Bill will deliver the most comprehensive approach in the world to protecting children online. Where pornographic websites or social media sites host user generated content or facilitate online user interactions (including video and image sharing, commenting and live streaming), they will be subject to the duty of care. The government has not conducted a detailed sector-by-sector analysis of the services in scope of the Bill and the number of UK users accessing those services, given the breadth of services in scope of legislation. However, the online safety regime will capture both the pornography sites most visited by UK users and pornography on social media, therefore covering the vast majority of sites where children are most likely to be exposed to pornography.The exact list of Category 1 services has not yet been determined. We have set out how the process will work for designating Category 1 services. Thresholds will be set by the government about the number of users and functionalities of a service, following receipt of advice from Ofcom. This is to ensure the process is objective and evidence-based. Ofcom will then be required to assess services against these thresholds and publish a register of all those which meet both thresholds.

Musicians: EU Countries

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to negotiate with the EU to reduce barriers faced by musicians intending to tour EU countries; whether they have produced a timetablefor those negotiations; and if so, whether they will place a copy of the timetable in the Library of the House.

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to establisha transitional support fund for UK musicians intending to tour in the EU.

Baroness Barran: The Government recognises the world-leading position of the UK performing arts sector and the rich breadth of artistic talent across the UK.UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are committed to supporting the sectors as they get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.As the Prime Minister has said, we're working flat out with the industry, including through the DCMS-led working group, on plans to support the creative sectors tour in Europe. Through our bilateral discussions with EU Member States, we have established that in at least 17 out of 27 Member States some touring activities are possible without visas or work-permits. The UK has significantly more generous arrangements for touring professionals than many Member States, and should they be willing to change their rules to match ours we will have those discussions and encourage them to do so.We are considering a number of options to ensure performers, musicians and artists have the support they need to tour and work in countries across the EU. We have produced new guidance to help artists understand what's required in different countries, and are looking carefully at proposals for a new Export Office that could provide further practical help. We will set out next steps in due course.